I swam. Chatooga, Wilson and Moonshine
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I swam. Chatooga, Wilson and Moonshine
.. found a new hole in the drysuit. Right around the crotch area. Bit chilly on Chatooga at 2.1'. Put in to run section 3.5 then to check the bridge gauge about continuing on. I dropped into Bull Sluice a little too early and got chundered making a roll or two before washing over decap rock with out my paddle but still in my boat. Juicy at that level!
Last edited by tolyho on Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"I may not have gone where I intended to go but I think I ended up where I needed to be..." Douglas Adams
But the question is... did you stick to the 3.5 plan? Or did it become a full on section IV run?
Generally, I think that if I have the opportunity to paddle, and I've got something else to do or I feel like I shouldn't go for some reason, then I force myself to go and I always have a great time. So, I guess when in doubt -- Go, Paddle. -- Tommy Hilleke
I took off. It was almost 2.2' on the gauge and I was pretty psyched out before thinking about the 5 falls section. When we set shuttle we only set it to Woodall Shoals with the thought that a few of us were taking off and able to grab the other two vehicles from the top and meet the rest at Lake Tugaloo. So when I got out of my boat I looked back noticing Swami's sly smile and Trevor ready to get it on as well. I solo'd out then ran a driver's shuttle to the top later to make it work. Here are some of the pics... really wish I had set full shuttle and stayed on:
Corkscrew at almost 2'2"
Puppy Chute since the hole that Sock em Dog created "was deeper than I am tall" according to the stories I heard later.
We headed straight back to Asheville for some of the best paddling eats I've every had. If you're in Asheville hit up Salsa's for the most amazing food and beer with killer service.
Tequilla, legal(yes legal) moonshine margarita's, and a super quiet cabin in Black Mountain created the best coma ever! The next morning we woke without an alarm, packed up the newly dried gear and ran to a local coffee shop in Black Mountain named Dynamite Coffee. Cool little place that reminded me of my uncle's house in the late 70's.
When we waked in a guy asked the all to common "So you're going boat ridding?". As it turns out he was a local paddler/instructor at NOC and his group bailed for the Watauga and Wilson for the day. "Give me ten minutes and I'll go with you guys". We got a guide. To say Scott knew the river was an understatement. He paddles Wilson year-round and was a great guide; "you'll need a right boof stroke here but watch the small rock on your left just under the surface on the landing cuz it screws up the rest of the mank before you go over the falls"... sure. no problem. We had a blast and even paid hommage to the river gods by doing a 60' slide into a shimmering green pool of very hard water. We put on the first run at -6" and the second at -8" as the level was dropping. Some small holes and ledges lead me to believe that this little gorge could ramp up in hurry steal your lunch money if you don't watch out. Beautiful scenery, cool peeps and another 1600 miles on the Subi.
Corkscrew at almost 2'2"
Puppy Chute since the hole that Sock em Dog created "was deeper than I am tall" according to the stories I heard later.
We headed straight back to Asheville for some of the best paddling eats I've every had. If you're in Asheville hit up Salsa's for the most amazing food and beer with killer service.
Tequilla, legal(yes legal) moonshine margarita's, and a super quiet cabin in Black Mountain created the best coma ever! The next morning we woke without an alarm, packed up the newly dried gear and ran to a local coffee shop in Black Mountain named Dynamite Coffee. Cool little place that reminded me of my uncle's house in the late 70's.
When we waked in a guy asked the all to common "So you're going boat ridding?". As it turns out he was a local paddler/instructor at NOC and his group bailed for the Watauga and Wilson for the day. "Give me ten minutes and I'll go with you guys". We got a guide. To say Scott knew the river was an understatement. He paddles Wilson year-round and was a great guide; "you'll need a right boof stroke here but watch the small rock on your left just under the surface on the landing cuz it screws up the rest of the mank before you go over the falls"... sure. no problem. We had a blast and even paid hommage to the river gods by doing a 60' slide into a shimmering green pool of very hard water. We put on the first run at -6" and the second at -8" as the level was dropping. Some small holes and ledges lead me to believe that this little gorge could ramp up in hurry steal your lunch money if you don't watch out. Beautiful scenery, cool peeps and another 1600 miles on the Subi.
Last edited by tolyho on Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"I may not have gone where I intended to go but I think I ended up where I needed to be..." Douglas Adams
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patmacpherson
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riverpirate
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And the whitewater shots ain't too shabby either. 
RP; a couple of shots were from a GoPro and the rest from a lesser(read cheap) older Olympus waterproof camera. Once in a while it does well but it takes effort (per the operator). The new GoPro Hero2 is pretty impressive and you can get a flat lens for it. Worth taking a look at. That was the Wilson trip. I can't speak on the Chatooga as I pulled off before the snaps were snapped.
Steve; I'd love to have a catalog like that but all of my vinyl is ficticiously living in my iPod. Funny thing is that on top of the record player is an iPod running the music on a 40-year old Technics receiver. Old School meets New.
Steve; I'd love to have a catalog like that but all of my vinyl is ficticiously living in my iPod. Funny thing is that on top of the record player is an iPod running the music on a 40-year old Technics receiver. Old School meets New.
"I may not have gone where I intended to go but I think I ended up where I needed to be..." Douglas Adams
one the best trips i've had in awhile! good scene all around, water, eats-n-drinks, & we solved most of the universes problems.
biggest any of our 9 man cru had seen section iv.
there were a few sheepish, shoulder-shrug resonses when i first asked if anybody knew the lines at that level,,, but the positive vibes came strong & kept building. as we approached 7', there was a little pause to discuss scouting, but the hammer fell instead & we charged,,, some solid (& some funny) outcomes.
we looked at a few of the 5 falls before dropping (& thankfully so - middle crack was gnar & sock-em dawg had no sense of hummor anybody related to). in the end they all turned out buttery smooth. a few 3rd & long rolls here & there, but no white-knucklers,,, & no eyeball deeps.
wilson creek was simply magical. low/slo water, but the package deal (scenery, commeraderie, lines-n-lead) was awsome, & a great way to scout for a first descent.
i give it a 10.5 outa 10!
swami
biggest any of our 9 man cru had seen section iv.
there were a few sheepish, shoulder-shrug resonses when i first asked if anybody knew the lines at that level,,, but the positive vibes came strong & kept building. as we approached 7', there was a little pause to discuss scouting, but the hammer fell instead & we charged,,, some solid (& some funny) outcomes.
we looked at a few of the 5 falls before dropping (& thankfully so - middle crack was gnar & sock-em dawg had no sense of hummor anybody related to). in the end they all turned out buttery smooth. a few 3rd & long rolls here & there, but no white-knucklers,,, & no eyeball deeps.
wilson creek was simply magical. low/slo water, but the package deal (scenery, commeraderie, lines-n-lead) was awsome, & a great way to scout for a first descent.
i give it a 10.5 outa 10!
swami
i know you gotta eat & other stuff, but paddlin' comes first 